Assam minority students' body backs BJP-led alliance candidate in Nagaon

Guwahati: In an unprecedented move the All-Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) has announced its support for the BJP-led alliance candidate Devasish Sharma, former bureaucrat. The organisation has urged minority voters in the constituency to vote for him in the interest of development.

By polls to Nagaon lok sabha seat will be held on October 6. AAMSU Central president Ikbal Hussain said that development should be the priority and urged voters to support BJP candidate Sharma in the interest of development.

He appealed to the people to vote for Sharma, describing him as a senior BJP leader and a former IAS officer, so that the constituency can move forward with the times and achieve faster development. This time, I appeal to all of you to come together and move forward in the interest of development. I request the people of Nagaon to use their valuable votes to elect BJP candidate Sharma. If we remain away from the BJP, our development will not take place.”


Hussain also criticised All-India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) president Badruddin Ajmal, referring to his age and physical condition. He said Ajmal even requires assistance to walk, and would be able to address the problems of the people of the constituency.

He further said that Ajmal had earlier indicated that he would not leave the Binnakandi Assembly constituency but later come to Nagaon to Contest Lok Sabha polls. Hussain questioned how Ajmal, whose party has no other representative in Parliament, could alone resolve all the problems of the people of Nagaon.

He appealed to voters to support Sharma, while saying that Ajmal should continue in his existing role as an MLA and “continue walking his own path.”

Ajmal who is MLA from Binnakandi Assembly constituency is looking to make re-entry into Lok Sabha after his defeat from Dhubri Lok Sabha seat in 2024.

Earlier Ajmal had rejected the Congress party’s offer of jointly fighting the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat.

By-election to the seat will be held as sitting MP from the Congress, Pradyut Bordoloi, resigned and left the Congress. He contested the assembly election in April this year from Dispur seat on a BJP ticket and won the seat.

Congress has fielded former Batadrava MLA Sibamoni Bora for the seat. The All India Trinamool Congress had announced Abdul Salam as its candidate for the seat.

The by-election is scheduled to be held on October 6, with counting of votes on October 9.

BJP has fielded Devasish Sharma former bureaucrat. On September 3, Nagaon District Commissioner Sharma, IAS, had taken voluntary retirement from government service after the Assam government accepted his request for voluntary retirement.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has described the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll as crucial for the BJP. He said that victory of the party in Nagaon will signal that the party can win all the 126 assembly seats in 2031 assembly polls.

The Chief Minister said the BJP has observed a shift in voter sentiment towards the party over the past month.

"If BJP wins the Nagaon by poll, then in the next Assembly election we will win 126 seats. Nagaon is not traditionally a BJP stronghold and has historically been a Congress seat,” Sarma said.

BJP in Assam had swept the assembly polls and formed the government for a third consecutive term in Assam in May this year. BJP for the first time crossed the majority mark on its own.

From 60 seats in 2021, the party won 82 in the 126-member assembly. NDA together won 102 seats. Both Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front won 10 seats each.